Onne Terminal Expansion Project Ready, August

The phase four of the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) expansion project in Onne, Rivers State would be completed in August this year.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi disclosed this at the inspection of the multi-billion naira port expansion project by the Good Governance Tour team led by Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku to Onne port recently.

Represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Olumide Oduntan and the General Manager, Capital Projects, Engr Rufai Mohammed, the Managing Director noted that the expansion was in respect of the increasing cargo traffic to the port.

The Managing Director said the expansion project is for beths 9, 10 and 11, spanning on 820 metres of land, adding that the new facility would have a depth of 12 metres.

He disclosed that the phase four expansion project would include the 4.5 kilometre road network, a 600 cubic metre water capacity treatment plant, which according to him, would be connected to eight bore-holes in the area, to help in fire-fighting.

The project under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) concept would give Intels that is funding the project, an opportunity on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) to manage the port for 20 years and recover its money spent.

While also briefing the team, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Engr Bebollisa Emodi said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had given approval for the project which is being funded by Intels and that it is on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) for 20 years.

In his reaction, the leader of the team and Information Minister, Mr Labaran Maku commended the management of NPA for the project, saying it is a positive and commendable response to the pressure on Lagos Ports, and acknowledged that the future of port services is deep sea port.

Mr Maku disclosed that government was developing deep sea ports in other ports of the country like in Lekki in Lagos and Ibeka in Akwa-Ibom State.

He said government was seeking investors to take advantage of the opportunity and patronise the port.

It was gathered that the expansion project would cost US $370 million.